Chrysanthemum plant

ABSTRACT

{PG,1 A chrysanthemum cultivar particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; daisy capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 100 to 120 mm. at maturity; uniform 7 week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; tall plant height when grown as a single stem cut spray; and semi-upright branching pattern.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name Superstar (#74028002).

SUPERSTAR IS A PRODUCT OF A PLANNED BREEDING PROGRAM WHICH HAD THEOBJECTIVE OF CREATING NEW CHRYSANTHEMUM CULTIVARS WITH DAISY CAPITULUMTYPE, WITH WHITE RAY FLORET COLOR, WITH 7 AND/OR 8 WEEK FLOWERINGRESPONSE, AND WITH THE ABILITY TO PRODUCE COMMERCIALLY ACCEPTABLEQUALITY IN YEAR ROUND CUT MUM PROGRAMS. Such traits in combination werenot present in previously available commercial cultivars.

Superstar was originated from a cross made in a controlled breedingprogram in Barberton, Ohio in 1972. The female parent was #71133006(unnamed seedling), a white daisy originated by the present inventorsfrom a cross between Nimrod (#60092002; unpatented; commerciallyavailable) and Sovereign (#5676001; unpatented; commercially available).The male parent of Superstar was Celebration (#70123008; U.S. Plant Pat.No. 3,778), a yellow daisy. Nimrod, Sovereign, and Celebration were allproducts of the breeding program of the present inventors.

Superstar was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by Walter H. Jessel, Jr. and William E.Duffett on Nov. 26, 1974 in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Superstar was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in February,1975 in a controlled environment in Barberton, Ohio, by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by Walter H.Jessel, Jr. and William E. Duffett. Horticultural examination ofselected units initiated Mar. 15, 1976 has demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for Superstar arefirmly fixed and are retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

Superstar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements, and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Barberton, Ohio under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial practice, as described in Chart Awhich appears at the end of the present specification. A light intensitychart of general use is shown in ASHAE Trans., Vol. 64, pg. 64 andreference is made thereto.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Superstar which in combination distinguishthis chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Flat capitulum form.

2. Daisy capitulum form.

3. White ray floret color.

4. Yellow-green (immature) to yellow (mature) disc floret color.

5. Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 100 to 120 mm. atmaturity.

6. Uniform 7 week photoperiodic flowering response to short days.

7. Tall plant height (requiring 1 to 2 long day weeks prior to shortdays to attain a flowered plant height of 72 to 82 cm. for Novemberthrough April flowerings).

8. Semi-upright branching pattern.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Superstar with colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a color photographof Superstar. Sheet 2 is a black and white photograph showing threeviews of the inflorescence of Superstar. Sheet 3 is a black and whitephotograph showing the foliage of Superstar at three stages of growth.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar existing cultivar in comparison to Superstar is thecultivar White Marble (#54318B08; unpatented). Reference is made toattached Chart B which compares certain characteristics of Superstar tothose same characteristics of White Marble. General comparisons are asfollows:

In comparison to White Marble, Superstar has larger capitulum size andearlier flowering response. The ray floret color, capitulum form,capitulum type, and plant height of Superstar are similar to those ofWhite Marble.

In the following description, color references are made to The MunsellColor Cascade, 1972 edition. The color values were determined between8:30 and 9:00 A.M. on Apr. 21, 1977 under 150 foot-candle lightintensity at Barberton, Ohio.

Botanical Classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cvSuperstar.

INFLORESCENCE

A. capitulum (See Sheets 1 and 2 of drawings):

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Daisy.

Diameter across face.--100 to 120 mm.

B. corolla of ray florets:

Persistence.--Resists shatter.

Color (abaxial).--26-2 to white.

Color (adaxial).--26-1 to white.

C. reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; scant to numerous; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

General appearance: Semi-upright branching pattern; tall height.

B. foliage (See Sheets 1 and 3):

Color abaxial.--Approximately 21-14 to 22-14.

Color adaxial.--Approximately 21-13 overlaid with white.

                                      CHART A                                     __________________________________________________________________________    Average Greenhouse Chrysanthemum Environments                                 Used For Barberton, Ohio                                                      Temperatures Used                                                                       Bright                                                                            Cloudy                                                                            Lighting                                                                              Black Cloth                                                                           SUPP                                        SEASON                                                                              Night                                                                             Day Day Used    Used    CO.sub.2                                    __________________________________________________________________________          65° F                                                                      65° F                                                                      60° F                                                                      2 to 4 weeks                                                                          To Sept. 15                                                                           From                                                          at 3 Hours Per                                                                        on-5:30 PM                                                                            Oct. 15                                     FALL  to  to  to  Night                                                                                 Off-7:30 AM                                                                           300 ppm                                           56° F                                                                      80° F                                                                      75° F                                                                      of 7-10 f.c.                                                      58° F                                                                      65° F                                                                      60° F                                                                      2 to 5 weeks                                                WINTER                                                                              to  to  to  at 5 hours Per                                                                        NONE    300 ppm                                                       Night                                                             62° F                                                                      70° F                                                                      65° F                                                                      of 7-10 f.c.                                                      58° F                                                                      65° F                                                                      60° F                                                                      2 to 4 weeks                                                                          From Mar. 15                                                                          To                                                                    on-5:30 PM                                                                            Apr. 15                                     SPRING                                                                              to  to  to  at 5 Hours Per                                                                Night   Off-7:30 AM                                                                           300 ppm                                           65° F                                                                      80°  F                                                                     75° F                                                                      of 7-10 f.c.                                                      62° F                                                                      70° F                                                                      65° F                                                                      1 to 2 weeks                                                SUMMER                                                                              to  to  to  at 3 Hours Per                                                                        on-6:00 PM                                                            Night           NONE                                              68° F                                                                      90° F                                                                      75° F                                                                      of 7-10 f.c.                                                                          Off-8:00 AM                                         __________________________________________________________________________

                  CHART B                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF SUPERSTAR AND WHITE MARBLE                                                               Diameter       Flower-                                      Ray     Capitulum Across Face    ing                                          Floret  Form And  Of       Plant Response                              Cultivar                                                                             Color   Type      Capitulum                                                                              Height                                                                              Period                                ______________________________________                                        Superstar                                                                            White   Flat      100 to   Tall  7 week                                               Daisy     120 mm.                                              White  White   Flat      70 to 85 mm.                                                                           Tall  9 week                                Marble         Daisy                                                          ______________________________________                                         Comparisons Made Of Plants Grown As Single Stem Cut Sprays In Barberton,      Ohio Under Conditions As Described In Chart A.                           

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum morifolium,Ramat., plant known by the cultivar name Superstar and particularlycharacterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flatcapitulum form; daisy capitulum type; white ray floret color; diameteracross face of capitulum ranging from 100 to 120 mm. at maturity;uniform seven week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; tallplant height when grown as a single stem cut spray; and semi-uprightbranching pattern.